Disclaimer for Academic Policy and Program Changes
Information displayed on this website is not to be regarded as a contract between the student and Gonzaga University. The University reserves the right to make changes in courses, programs, faculty, calendar, tuition and fees, grading procedures, graduation requirements, admission criteria, and any other information contained on this website at any time without notification. Changes become effective when the University so determines, and apply to prospective students as well as students currently enrolled. The University will make an effort to notify students of changes through publications and notices.

Disclaimer for Course Availability
All reasonable care is taken to ensure that both course offerings and degree requirements contain no erroneous, deceptive, or misleading information by omission, actual statement, or implication. Every effort will be made by the University to offer at least the courses listed in the catalogue during the period in which it is in effect; student enrollment and faculty availability, however, may affect the courses offered. Some courses listed in University publications are offered only as needed. The decision to offer such courses rests with the Chairperson in consultation with the appropriate Dean. Final course information is published on Zagweb.

Freedom of Expression: Students are free to take reasoned exception to the views offered in particular courses of study. They may, however, be required to know thoroughly the particulars set out by the instructor, but are free to reserve personal judgment as to the truth or falsity of what is presented. Knowledge and academic performance should be the norms by which students are graded.

The University's Mission Statement expresses Gonzaga's self-understanding in terms of humanist, Catholic, and Jesuit traditions. The Statement also explains Gonzaga's educational mission in terms of the ideals of creativity, intelligence, self-knowledge, desire for the truth, mature concern for others, and a thirst for justice. The Statement makes these traditions and ideals concrete and practical by relating them to academic programs whose goals are to teach professional expertise and the mastery of a particular body of knowledge. Honesty is an essential part of these traditions, ideals, and practical goals. A university such as Gonzaga's Mission Statement promises must, therefore, maintain high standards of academic honesty.

Without honesty the humanist, Catholic and Jesuit traditions could not continue; knowledge would be neither taught nor learned. Even the less obvious ethical and educational principles in our Mission Statement require honesty. Creativity without honesty becomes self-indulgence, intelligence without honesty degenerates into mere mental power. Self-knowledge without honesty cannot rise above self-deception, and the desire for truth becomes a craving for the rewards of those who have honestly found the truth. Without honesty, a concern for others may easily serve as a disguise for manipulation. The commitment to justice requires honesty, for to cheat, to fabricate, or to plagiarize is to act unjustly. Professional expertise requires honesty: cheating or plagiarizing denies the essence of what it means to be a professional in any field.

Because honesty is so essential to the traditions, ideals, and goals that define its kind of education, Gonzaga is committed to protecting academic honesty. This commitment entails practical consequences. To be fair to all members of the University, the University must explain clearly what these practical consequences of its commitment to academic honesty.

ACADEMIC HONESTY consists of truth-telling and truthful representations in all academic contexts;

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY consists of any of the following activities: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and facilitating academic dishonesty;

PENALTIES for academic dishonesty will be imposed through the Academic Honesty Policy, which all faculty and students are expected to understand and adhere to.
A complete copy of the policy can be obtained from the Academic Vice President’s Office or by clicking here.

Full-time students who are eligible for, and receiving, financial aid must successfully complete twelve (12) credits with a minimum GPA of 2.00 each semester. Students who fail to achieve this criterion are placed on Financial Aid Probation and may lose all financial aid if their academic performance does not reflect satisfactory progress during the next semester. Additionally, State of Washington financial aid recipients who are enrolled full-time are required to successfully complete at least six (6) credit hours per semester or risk immediate suspension of state aid. Please note that current financial aid awarding procedures reflect the expectation that undergraduate students enrolled on a full-time basis will complete their degree requirements in eight semesters.

The policies and procedures governing SAP and its relationship to financial aid are available from the Financial Aid Office, College Hall, Room 129. Students with additional questions regarding this policy are invited to inquire at the Financial Aid Office.

Satisfactory Academic Progress for Veterans
Veterans failing to achieve minimum standards of academic progress are placed on probation for the following semester and notified via email by the University's Veterans' Advisor. Should satisfactory academic progress not be achieved by the following term, certification of veteran benefits will be suspended and the VA Regional Processing Office will be notified. Certification of veteran benefits can resume once satisfactory academic progress standing is attained.

Good Academic Standing, Unsatisfactory Academic Progress, Probation, and Academic Dismissal
Students are on Academic Probation whenever the term and/or cumulative GPA falls below a 2.00. To be in Good Academic Standing with the University, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 as determined at the end of every semester, beginning with the completion of the student's second regular (non-summer) semester at Gonzaga University. Good Academic Standing is required for all graduating students, and it may impact a student's ability to receive financial aid, scholarships, or to represent Gonzaga in extra-curricular activities.

Any student on academic probation will have their student status reviewed by the Committee on Academic Standing. The conditions of academic probation are specified in a letter to the student from the Committee. Students are expected to comply with all stipulations made in the letter and any additional requirements placed upon them as a result of academic probation.

Students on academic probation, regardless of their academic standing, may be subject to academic dismissal from the University. A notation of "Academic Dismissal" will appear on transcripts. Dismissed students have an opportunity for appeal. Directions for this process are indicated in the dismissal letter sent to the student.

Those receiving financial aid also may be subject to Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Probation and/or Suspension, which may result in additional financial consequences.

Alumni Audit Policy
Alumni audit of a course may only be used by students who have graduated with any degree type at any level from Gonzaga University. The option is only available during the academic year of fall and spring semesters. Only courses deemed as undergraduate lecture courses (not studio or lab based) may be taken and any course the alum desires must not be at enrollment capacity. Modern language courses have a lab component and are not eligible for audit. The courses will not appear on transcripts and cannot be made to do so. Registration for this option occurs during Registration Period III when drop/add takes place.

Auditing a Course Policy
Audit grading option (AU grade assigned): Auditors are students who register for a course under the Audit grading option by signing the audit form in the Registrar’s Office. Regular tuition is charged. Activity courses (e.g., physical education, music, art, etc.) are not permitted to be taken under the Audit grading option. Auditors will not be allowed access to individual instruction, to equipment, or to supplies in conjunction with the course. Once a course is registered for under the Audit grading option, students who fail to attend the class according to the regular attendance requirements of the class are liable to receive a "V" grade at the discretion of the professor.

Registration is available through Registration Period III which is the add/drop period. The auditor registers for a lecture method course under the Audit grading option and pays tuition based on this option and course credits. A designation of "AU" is recorded on the auditor’s academic transcript if the auditor satisfactorily attended the course. An "AU" on a student’s transcript reflects no academic credits earned and indicates that the person has received exposure to the course content for an academic semester/term. The "AU" designation does not apply toward meeting degree requirements.

A professor may assign a "V" grade for unofficial withdrawal when attendance is unsatisfactory.

Under this option, audited course credits are not counted toward meeting full-time credit requirements for financial aid, student loans, VA benefits, etc., although standard tuition is paid for the credits. Auditors should be very cautious about registering using the 'Audit' grading option.

Class Attendance Policy
Students are presumed to have sufficient maturity to recognize their responsibility for regular class attendance. Since illness or other good reason may prevent attendance, Gonzaga University has a standard policy on absences. However, students should check the syllabus for each course to confirm the instructor's specific attendance policy, which should be clearly delineated within each syllabus, and which cannot be more restrictive than the GU policy.

Gonzaga's policy on absences stipulates that the maximum allowable absence is two class hours (100 minutes) for each class credit. For three-credit classes, the maximum absence is, therefore, six class hours (300 minutes).

Classes scheduled to meet for more than 50 minutes have more than one class hour for each meeting; for example, a class which meets for 75 minutes has one and one-half class hours for each scheduled meeting. Instructors may report absences to the Registrar’s Office, which will in turn notify the students. The grade given for excessive absences is a "V," which has the same effect as "F" (Fail) and is counted in the GPA. This outcome can be appealed to the Dean of the College/School in which the course is offered. Faculty are encouraged to work with individual students to ensure academic success.

Participation in school activities or athletics does not exempt students from this standard policy on absences. The fact that a student has met the other course requirements (such as papers) is not sufficient to change a "V" to a passing grade. The University Class Attendance Policy may be modified for qualified students with documented short or long term disabilities. For more information or case consultation, contact the Disability Access Office.

Undergraduate students who register but decide not to attend the University should obtain a Complete Withdrawal form from the Registrar's Office. The withdrawal process requires approvals and an interview with a professional in the Registrar's Office. Tuition adjustments are based on the date a University official is notified by the student that he/she wishes to withdraw. The tuition adjustment schedule for a complete withdrawal is posted in the Students Accounts and Financial Aid Offices. Refunds for room and board will be prorated throughout the semester. Financial aid funds will be refunded in accordance with University and governmental regulations.

Graduate students are instructed to contact the Registrar’s Office regarding any withdrawal from the University whether it be an individual course withdrawal or a complete withdrawal.

A student can repeat any course with another course of the same designation, in an effort to improve the GPA. The original course and grade will remain recorded on the student’s transcript but will not be counted into the student’s GPA. The cumulative credits and GPA will be adjusted to reflect the last credits and grade earned. Courses for which a student received a grade carry no quality point value, such as W, (X prior to 1996), and AU may be re-taken in subsequent semesters; these grades are not included in the course repeat policy jurisdiction. Courses retaken as an independent study or directed reading do not qualify under this policy. Only courses re-taken at Gonzaga University qualify to improve the GPA.

Academic departments are permitted to have more restrictive policies regarding repeating and/or withdrawing from courses. Students are advised to work carefully with their academic advisors and departments regarding these departmental policies.

Students in good academic standing may petition their school’s Dean to take more than the maximum of eighteen credits. There is an additional tuition charge for these extra credits. Students in the Honors Program, the Comprehensive Leadership Program, the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program or in ROTC , however, with the approval of the respective Program Director, may take extra credits without charge.

The transfer of any extension or correspondence course credit is limited to six semester credits for undergraduate students and requires the written approval of the Academic Vice President's Office.

Courses taken in extension or by correspondence are not allowed as credit toward graduate degrees. In exceptional cases, the Academic Vice President may waive this regulation if recommended by the Program Director and Dean.

Students should contact professors or academic departments prior to the first class session if they plan to be absent. If a student misses the first class meeting without notifying the instructor or academic department, the student may be dropped from the course at the discretion of the instructor and provided that the course is closed. Professors will report absences to the Dean, who, upon approval, will notify the Registrar’s Office to drop students from course sections. For further information about unexcused absences, please refer to Gonzaga’s “Class Attendance Policy.”Top of Page

Final examinations are held at the end of each semester, and, at the option of the instructor, examinations are held at mid-semester. Final examination times are listed for each semester on the Registrar's Office web page. Students making their travel arrangements for the end of each semester must take into account these final examination times.

Final examinations or their equivalent can be administered by instructors only on the day at the time indicated in the Final Exam Schedule; any exceptions to this procedure must have the explicit approval of the appropriate Dean.

Students must maintain standards of academic performance set forth by the University if they are to receive the certificate of competence implied by course credits and degrees. The instructor is the usual and competent judge of these matters. Students must be protected against the rare case of unjust grading and evaluation. Allegations of unfair or prejudiced grading may be brought to the attention of and reviewed by the department Chair, by the Dean of the appropriate school and, if necessary, by the Academic Vice President, whose decision is final.

Students may undertake individualized study if it is considered necessary to complete their program. Application for individualized study must be made on a form available from the Registrar’s Office. It is the responsibility of the student to demonstrate the relevancy of the proposed study and the ability to complete it on an agreed upon time line.

There is no set limit for individualized study courses toward a degree program for an undergraduate student. For most master’s programs, the student is allowed a maximum of two individualized study courses (six semester credits) for degree completion.

Students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Gonzaga and must interrupt their education for a period of not more than one year may be eligible for a leave of absence (LOA) from the University. To be eligible for a LOA, a student must have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.00 in the preceding fall or spring semester and a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher, as well as obtain approval from the Office of the Registrar and Student Development. LOA request forms can be found in the Registrar's Office. Students are not eligible to reside on campus, attend classes, or participate in regular campus activities during their absence. Students who attend another school during their LOA will have that status voided and they must apply for readmission to the University. The LOA will not extend beyond one academic year. Students who wish to return to the University after the termination date of their LOA must apply for readmission to the University.

Any LOA request completed by a student while allegations of misconduct are pending will have their LOA status revoked.

Students who have been suspended through the Office of Community Standards do not qualify for a LOA and must apply for readmission to the University.